Raipur, Aug 19 (IANS) A mega power plant inaugurated in Chhattisgarh and touted as a major step to make the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled state power-cut free, stopped functioning within three hours of activation.
The opposition Congress alleges the plant was opened in haste in order to divert attention from the dissidence plaguing the BJP.
BJP president Rajnath Singh inaugurated the 250-MW plant at Korba, 220 km from here on Friday. Chief Minister Raman Singh said the plant would help Chhattisgarh become self-sufficient in power supply.
However, after three hours the plant stopped working.
“The plant has developed some problem in the boiler machine and has stopped power generation. Technicians and experts are looking into the problem. It will take at least 30 to 45 days to begin production at full strength,” a Chhattisgarh State Electricity Board (CSEB) official told IANS by phone Sunday, requesting anonymity.
Congress leader and former chief minister Ajit Jogi, however, contended: “The power plant was inaugurated in a haste, without proper trial and mandatory technical exercises. Chief Minister Raman Singh showed undue rush to invite Rajnath Singh, take credit for the plant and divert people’s attention about dissident activities going on against him,” he said in a statement Sunday.
Chhattisgarh requires about 2,100 MW power in peak hours, while it has availability of 1,706.42 MW. The new unit is part of the Korba East 500 MW (250X2) power plant built by Bharat Heavy Electrical Limited (BHEL) in September 2003.